By: Sophia Kibler

   In a world abundant with overconsumption and unethical business practices, Thrift Club was started at Marriotts Ridge with the goal of raising awareness about sustainable consumer practices. In recent years, many students have found the rapid-paced and never-ending trend cycles to be impossible to keep up with, and these social downsides are also reflected in the detrimental effects it has on the environment. Thrift Club operates on the principles of sustainability and aims to teach members valuable skills about upcycling and ethical shopping. 

   “Our goal is to encourage sustainability and environmental mindfulness among students. We want students to be aware of unethical business practices and the environmental impact that major fast fashion companies perpetuate,” junior and co-president of Thrift Club, Abigail Lyu, stated.

   What Lyu talks about is an issue becoming more prominent among young people, which is the concern of the fashion industry’s business practices and environmental impact. The Thrift Club was started by its co-presidents, Sophia Shaw and Abigail Lyu, because they could no longer ignore the ever-evolving issue of fast fashion. The club plans to raise awareness among students at Marriotts Ridge regarding the fashion industry’s waste production and the harsh treatment of workers. However, it’s not all gloom, as Thrift Club also provides solutions and alternatives to fast fashion. 

   “This year, Thrift Club is planning to do fun activities such as patchwork clothing to upcycle. We also plan to educate on sustainability practices and create donation drives for those in need,” junior and co-president Sophia Shaw said. 

   It’s clear Thrift Club’s mission is to make sure clothes don’t go to waste. As large companies use cheap labor to pump out mounds of low-quality clothing, alternatives are important to stay educated on. Thrift Club will be providing ways to upcycle clothing in future meetings by teaching how to mend clothing and doing patchwork activities. These activities are not only engaging and useful skills, but also actively help combat clothes potentially going to waste. In the past, Thrift Club has made sure items are reused and has gone to people who need them.

   Ms. Costabile is the sponsor of our club. She helps with outreach, such as big projects like our Maryland Book Drive from last school year,” said treasurer and junior Sahana Madhavan. 

   During the 2024-25 school year, Thrift Club held a book drive coordinated by the very helpful sponsor, Ms. Costabile, alongside counselor Ms. Wohnsigl. Club members decorated boxes for people to put old books into and put them around the school. The club accumulated over 30 books to donate to the Maryland Book Bank in Baltimore. 

   “People should join if they’re looking for a way to be more mindful and look for new ways to reuse things or just help to give to others. If you believe in our message, you should join,” said club member and junior Haewan Kirbet.

    Thrift Club promotes sustainability and mindful consumerism. If environmentally friendly practices sound interesting and important, joining the club would be a fantastic match for you.